SARASOTA – July 16th marks one year since a Texas teen was struck by lightning on Siesta Key Beach.
“The fact that Jacob survived that, it’s a miracle, it really is,” said Jacob’s mom, Barbara Brewer.
A year ago, 15 year old, Jacob Brewer was vacationing on Siesta Key when a storm rolled through and he was struck by lightning.
“Running down the beach access, to people carrying what appeared to be a juvenile who was unresponsive, I directed them to place the child on the ground and check for vital signs and breathing and a pulse, I couldn’t find either so I immediately started first aid, with CPR and rescue breaths,” said Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Mark Eve.
Deputy Eve continued the life saving efforts until emergency personnel arrived and Jacob was taken to a nearby hospital. Barbara describes her son as a miracle.
“Most people who are directly hit by lightning do not survive, you have to have someone start CPR right away, and hope that the internal injuries because this lightning is so hot and so intense, it just burns everything,” said Brewer.
A year later, Deputy Eve reflects on the incident as being one of the most significant of his 20 year career
“I think that’s really why I got into law enforcement, is to effect a positive change, and this was certainly that, I will always look back to this incident as something that I am most proud of,” said Deputy Eve.
Jacob, continues to recover in Jacksonville, as his family remains positive he will one day walk again
“We’re constantly telling him, you know what, it has just been a year we know it has been really hard, were going to get through this, and we have lots of players and support and donations, I mean this is a dream come true to be able to come to this machine, and be able to do this and we couldn’t have done it with the support of so many people, it’s been incredible,” said Brewer.
For more information on Jacob’s story, you can visit his Go-Fund Me page here.
